smARTplaces. A European Audience Development Project

In this talk we present our perspective on emerging technologies like VR/AR, AI and how they may be used to create artistic expression. We argue that technology is not good or bad per se but needs to be considered in a proper contextual setting. Adapting emerging technologies for artistic expressions might bridge the gap between artist and audience and help to better convey the artistic message thus providing new ways of audience development.

Prof. Dr. Chris Geiger is Professor of »Mixed Reality and Visualization« at University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf where he leads an interdisciplinary group of researchers. The MIREVI team works on innovative interfaces to connect people with technology. Chris published over 120 papers in the areas of system design, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, mixed reality and human-computer interaction and served as reviewer and PC member in several conferences. As an active researcher in applied science he works on a number of national and international R&D projects. One important focus of his work is to identify synergies between art, design and technology and to find new ways of working together in multi-disciplinary teams. This includes the participation in EU funded projects like »PS2« (The peoples‘ smart sculpture), »MOCCA« (Motion Capturing Creative Area) and »MARTA« (Mixed Reality Art Applications). Working with cultural organizations, designers and artists is an important part of the daily work.

Britta Lerch: Introducing smARTplaces. A European Audience Development Project

From March 1st to 2nd, 2018, the conference »smARTplaces | INNOVATION in Culture« took place at the ZKM | Karlsruhe as part of the EU project »smARTplaces«.

Not only is digitization now in art’s DNA, cultural institutions are beginning to embark on disruptive paths in order to facilitate and support innovative processes. The »smARTplaces | INNOVATION in Culture« conference analyzes possibilities, and also necessities, of digital renewal within culture and spotlights audience development.

Speaker:
Britta Lerch, Dortmunder U

Jasmin Vogel & Abhay Adhikari: Are we too easily seduced by success?

Jasmin Vogel: (*1981) History studies and American/English studies at Ruhr University in Bochum. Part-time course in culture and media management at KMM in Hamburg. Since 2012, Jasmin Vogel has been responsible for the area of marketing at the Dortmunder U. In this framework, she has conceived and planned projects including the following: »Innovative Citizen – Festival for Urban Skills« (2014 -present), Summer at the U – Festival of Contemporary Culture (2014 -present), »smARTplaces – A European Audience Development Project« (EU project, since 2013). Awards and distinctions: European Cultural Brand of the Year 2016, German Brand Award for Excellent Brand Leadership 2016. Focuses: strategy development and implementation, vision development, strategic partnerships, project development. Abhay Adhikari (PhD) works globally with private and public sector organizations to develop digital engagement and innovation projects. He has created strategic programs for organizations such as The Guardian, Google and Nesta. He also leads the Urban Sustainable Development Lab, which was named as one of UK’s 50 radical-thinking projects by the Observer newspaper. Abhay has a research background in biofeedback gaming and has previously conducted mindfulness workshops in Japan. He has spoken on digital culture at Battle of Ideas, Shift Happens, Future Everything and TEDx.
Aurélie Maguet: The small cabinets of curiosity, innovative mediation concept?

Aurélie Maguet has a degree both in history of art, heritage and tourism and in European project management. After two experiences in the heritage and museum field, in charge of publics, she is now responsible for the publics department in the Musée de Picardie (Amiens, France) since 2015, currently facing new challenges raised by a closed museum undergoing an important renovation process. The stress is now put on accessibility and openness of the institution and its collections, through outdoors activities, digitalization and close relation with publics in order to prepare the reopening by the end of 2019.

Marleen Hartjes is a museum education / mediation developer and as accessibility manager responsible for the Special Guests program at the Van Abbemuseum, museum of modern and contemporary art in Eindhoven (The Netherlands). The program is designed to enhance the museums accessibility and inclusion for everyone, regardless of any restrictions, gender, cultural background or handicaps. She developed various programs in cooperation with the constituencies, special tours, projects and additional services for blind, blind deaf and partially sighted visitors, visitors that are deaf or hard of hearing, non-mobile visitors, visitors with autism and visitors with aphasia, all of this next to the Alzheimer tours the museum already offered. Last but not least, she launched a museum app for the hospital based, with the inspiring stories from children about art works of the museum collection. To let them forget the world of hospitals and sickness to enter a world of possibilities and dreams. Two years ago a museum robot was implemented to the program by Hartjes to enable a visit for people who cannot attend the museum in person.

Jussi Kangasoja: On a way to transform institutions smART

With a coherent and multi-layered use of digital technology, social web tools, adaptive storytelling concepts as well as joint exhibitions and activities on- and offline institutions will be turned into »smARTplaces«. Digital technologies and tools give the opportunity to identify and engage with diverse and larger audiences in many ways that were not possible few years ago. But is it just like a walk in the park? This talk is about challenges for institutions. We touch the technical dimension but also discuss about non-technical dimensions that are strictly related how (if) to utilize technologies. Which are the technologies institutions should invest and which trends they should follow?

Jussi Kangasoja is a knowledge transferring specialist in various fields of Content-Business-Technology sphere. He has passion to everything which provides value for the user, has digits inside and can communicate. He holds Master’s degree in Information Technology (Wireless Technologies) and Bachelor in Telecommunications by education. He has been working in a number of demanding research and development initiatives with the work profile of project manager, consult and technical expert. Currently he works as a Team Manager for the Creative Industries at Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Media and Performing Arts.

Björn Bohnenkamp: Segmentation approaches today

Björn Bohnenkamp has been a Professor of Marketing, Media and Consumer Culture at the Karlshochschule International University since 2014. He was awarded a PhD in theater, film and televisions studies at the University of Cologne in 2010, followed by one in business administration in 2016 at the University of Münster. As well as his teaching and research activities at the Universities of Göttingen, Princeton, Weimar and Münster, he has worked as an advisor for media companies and cultural organizations for many years. One of his main research focuses is the transfer between culture and management: he is interested in the relevance of cultural forms in management and marketing as well as the potential of, in particular, quantitative methods for the cultural sector.